The University of Nebraska Press is happy to announce that Matt Mason, the current Nebraska State Poet, will be the judge for the 2020 Backwaters Press Prize in Poetry competition.

Submissions will be accepted April 1 through May 15. The winner will receive $2,000 and publication of their book.

The 2019 winner was Jennifer K. Sweeney for her collection, Foxlogic, Fireweed, which will be published this fall. The honorable mention was Indigo Moor for his collection, Everybody’s Jonesin’ for Something. Both were selected by poet Grace Bauer.

Founded in 1997, the Backwaters Press has published award-winning books by some of America’s finest writers. The University of Nebraska Press acquired the Backwaters Press in 2018, with its impressive backlist in poetry and prose that contributes to the cultural landscape of our state and region. As a general interest imprint of UNP, the Backwaters Press continues to plant it roots firmly in the Great Plains, delighting readers with literature of enduring value and consequence. Nebraska is proud to announce that titles under the Backwaters Press imprint will be available as ebooks as well.

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